Gate



Jan. 6, 1925. 1,522,454

U.-M. HOPKINS GATE ' Filed March 4, 1924 INVENTOR.

U. M Hop/Fins ATTORNEY.

and improved means w- Fatented Jan. 6, 1925.

UNITED sTAres URI M. enemas, or COMMISKEY, INDIANA.

GATE.

Application filed March 4, 1924. Serial No. 696,853.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, URI M. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oommiskey, in the county of Jennings and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates, ofwh'ich the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in gates and has relation more particularly to a farm gate or the like and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character with novel hereby thesame may be effectively supported in working position and in a. manner whereby the gate proper may be readily and conveniently applied or removed.

Furthermore it is an object of the inventi on to provide a gate having a noveland improved mounting therefor whereby the gate may be readily caused to slide into open or closed position and which, when desired, may be swung into either of "such positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate of this general character with a novel and improvedmounting whereby the weight of the gate is substantially carried by the bottom support for the mounting so that the spreading of the fence posts in no way interferes with the desired closing of the gate.

The invention also has for an object to provide a novel and improved mounting for the gate proper wherein the lower bearing for the mounting comprises a member carried by a concrete base to prevent the sagging of the base or the adjacent fence post in view of the fact that such base is not subjected to rotting and is capable of withstanding the spring frcezes and thaws.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combinationandarrangement of the several parts of my improved gate whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a view in elevation with a portion broken away illustrating a gate constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in top pianof the struc ture as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figgure 1;

Figure 4: is an elevational view showing the gate in position to swing.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, A and B denote suitably spaced and arranged posts the space between which bcin-g adapted to be closed by the gate G.

The gate G, as herein disclosed, comprises a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally disposed rails or members 1 connected and held in desired assembled relation through the medium of "the vertically disposed bars 2, said bars being prefcraiirlv metallic. The lower rail or member 1 at a point in relatively close proximity to its outer end is provided from below with a recess 3 in which extends-a supporting wheel 4: adapted to engage and traversethe surface. The wheel 4: is mounted upon a pin 5 or the like disposed transversely through the opening 3 and supported by the plates 6, said plates being secured to the opposite sides of said lower rail or member 1 and bridging the lower portionof the opening The lower rails or members 1 are freely disposed throughan elongated vertically disposed frame F comprising the side members 7 and the end cross members Sand one of such rails or members 1, preferably the uppermost one, rests upon a grooved wheel 9 rotatably supported between the side members 7 of the frame F by the pin 10 disposed through said side members 7 and bridging the space therebetween. By this means, the gate G is supported by the frameF for endwise sliding movement with respect thereto yet permitting the gate to have swinging movement with such frame F. The frame F, as herein disclosed, is positioned between the two inner vertical bars 2, said bars being spaced apart a distance to limit the extent of sliding movement of the gate G with respect to the frame F. One of the posts, such as A, and which may be termed the rear post, is provided in its upper portion with an inwardly disposed and laterally inclined bar 11 terminating in a depending vpintle 12 adapted to be disposed through an opening in the central; portion of the upper cross iii) Iii

member 8 thereby providing a mounting for the upper portion of the frame F. The bar 11 is disposed on such an incline as to position the rails or members 1 sufficiently to one side of the adjacent post A to permit the gate G to be readily slid into open or closed position without hinderance or obstruction being offered by such post A.

Embedded in the ground or kindred surface adjacent the rear post A and directly below the pintle 12 is a base 15 of concrete and which has set in the upper portion thereof the vertically disposed pintle 16. The lower portion of which being provided with an outstanding annular flange or head 17. The pintle 16 is adapted to be disposed through an opening 18 in the lower cross member 8 whereby a bearing is provided for the lower end of the frame. The pintle 12 is of a length greater than that of the pintle 16 and the bar 11 is so positioned that when it is desired to remove the gate G, said gate and frame may be lifted upwardly of the pintle 12 a distance sufficient to disengage the lower cross member from the bottom pintle 16 and which is also true in mounting the frame and gate into working position. By this particular mounting of the frame F it will be readily noted that said frame F and the gate G may be readily and conveniently applied or removed. by a single person and without the necessity of removing any bolts or other parts of the structure. In a gate of this kind and especially in a farm gate, this particular feature is of decided advantage and especially when it is desired to permit the passage of wide farm machinery such as binders, thrashers and the like.

The second or front post B is provided in its inner face with a longitudinally disposed recess or groove 19 which is adapted to re-- ceive an extended end portion 20 of a rail or member 1 when the gate is in closed position whereby said gate is effectively maintained against swinging movement.

It will also be understood that the gate G may readily have sliding movement with respect to the frame F when the frame F has been swung or turned about its pintles 12 and 16 and that such turning movement of the frame F and the gate G when in open position may also be readily obtained in one direction after the gate has been slided into open position.

If it should be required that the gate B be only swung into open or closed position, the gate Gr is locked against sliding movement by disposing the pins 21 through the side members 3 of the frame F and certain of the rails or members 1 but before doing this the gate may beso slided as to position the extension 20 to one side of the post B. g

It is to be particularly noted that the mounting of the frame F as herein disclosed, is such that the weight of such frame toupper portion of the gether with the weight of the gate G is borne by the concrete base 15 whereby the liability of the post A sagging is substantially eliminated. It will also be readily understood that the engagement of a rail or member 1 with the wheel 9 permits the gate G to have limited vertical swinging movement. This is of advantage as effective closing of the gate is assured in the event either of the posts A or B should sag. 7

- The life of the gate structure is materially prolonged by the use of the concrete base 15 as such base will not rot and will effectively withstand the spring freezes and thaws.

The rear or hinge post A is also preferably set within the concrete base 15, said base in practice being of suflicient depth to permit the post A to be set below the freezing point. From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a gate constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted foruse by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation 1 of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with a post, an-upstanding pintle supported independently of the post but in relatively close proximity thereto, an outstanding arm carried by the upper portion of the post and provided with a depending pintle substantially in vertical alignment with the first named pintle, the lower portion of the first named pintle being provided with an outstanding'annular flange, the upper pintle being of greater length than the lower pintle, a vertically 'disposed frame provided in its ends with openings through which the pintles are adapted to be disposed, the arm carried by the upper portion of the post being so spaced with respect to the upper end of the frame when in applied position to permit said frame to be moved inwardly of the upper pintle a distance to free the lower end of the frame from the lower pintle, and a gate operatively engaged with the frame.

2. In combination with apost, an upstanding pintle-supported independently of the post but in relatively close proximity thereto, an outstanding arm carried by the V post and provided with a depending pintle substantially in vertical alignment with the first named pintle, the

'lower portion of the first named pintle being provided with an outstanding annular flange, the upper pintle being of greater in practice except as,

length than the lower pintle, a vertically disposed frame provided in its ends with openings through which the pintles are adapted to be disposed, the arm carried by the upper portion of the post being so spaced with respect to the upper end of the frame when in applied position to permit said frame to be moved inwardly of the upper pintle a distance to free the lower end of the frame from the lower pintle, and a gate sli'dably engaged with the frame.

3. In combination with a post, an upstanding pintle supported independently of the post but in relatively close proximity thereto an outstanding arm carried by the upper portion of the post and provided with a depending pintle substantially in vertical alignment with the first named pintle, the

lower portion of the first named pintle being provided with an outstanding annular flange, the upper pintle being of greater length than the lower pintle, a vertically disposed frame provided in its ends with openings through which the p-intles are adapted to be disposed, the arm carried by the upper portion of the post being so spaced with respect to the upper end of the frame when in applied position to permit said frame to be moved inwardly of the upper pintle a distance to free the lower end of the frame from the lower pintle, a gate slidably engaged with the frame, and means coacting with the gate and frame for holding the gate against sliding movement with respect to the frame.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

URI M. HOPKINS. 

